Sleeping posture supporting apparatus

ABSTRACT

Provided is a sleeping posture supporting apparatus for supporting and maintaining a person&#39;s entire body lying at full length (lying on one side) and increasing breathing capacity while sleeping so as to prevent the person from snoring, thus allowing the person to have a good sleep.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2007-0078731, filed on Aug. 6, 2007, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a sleeping posture supporting apparatus, and more particularly, to an apparatus for supporting and maintaining a person's entire body lying at full length (a person lying on one side) and increasing a person's breathing capacity during sleep so as to prevent the person from snoring and thus allowing him or her to have a good sleep.

2. Description of the Related Art

Snoring is the vibration of respiratory structures and the resulting sound, due to obstructed air movement during breathing while sleeping, and thus it may be a symptom indicating a difficulty in breathing while sleeping.

Air flows over soft structures such as the palate, the uvula, the tonsils, the tongue, etc. during breathing. However, the airflow is not obstructed when the person is awake since these soft structures are supported by the muscles around them.

However, during sleep, the muscles are relaxed, the airway partially narrows, soft structures vibrate when air flows through the airway, and thus snoring occurs.

When the airway is completely obstructed due to serious muscle relaxation or due to the accumulation of fat, air does not flow to the lungs, resulting in sleep apnea.

In particular, fat male adults or persons who have small jaws that are positioned back or who have short thick necks tend to snore excessively. In this case, the uvula is narrow and it is difficult to open the airway. Such severe snoring is accompanied by loud noise and sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep, and lasts long enough so that one or more breaths are missed. In particular, a drunk person can die from suffocation since the speed of autonomic nerve reflex responses are reduced and the airway may be obstructed for a long time.

Sleep apnea causes a loud snoring sound and a reduction in sound sleep, is accompanied by daytime sleepiness and drastic fatigue in spite of a sufficient sleep time, and involves memory loss and lack of concentration due to a lack of oxygen while sleeping.

Sufferers may experience severe daytime sleepiness and fatigue, which causes car accidents. Furthermore, a long period of sleep apnea increases the burden on the heart or lungs, and may cause serious complications such as hypertension, a heart attack, or a stroke.

Snoring prevention pillows are used to prevent snoring or sleep apnea, which does not work since the pillows are not used correctly during sleep.

Furthermore, although a nose pendant or an oral closing tool induces nose breathing so as to prevent snoring, persons are reluctant to wearing such tools or a cold or a blockage in the nose makes it difficult to use such tools.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a sleeping posture supporting apparatus for maintaining a person's entire body lying at full length and for increasing breathing capacity and oxygen supply during sleep, thereby preventing a person from snoring or experiencing sleep apnea, thus allowing the person to have a good sleep.

The present invention also provides a sleeping posture supporting apparatus for controlling an angle of the chest in order to ensure comfort, according to a user's body size.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a sleeping posture supporting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a sleeping posture supporting apparatus applied to a user according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a pillow of a sleeping posture supporting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a long cushion of a sleeping posture supporting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an inclination support of a sleeping posture supporting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown.

According to the sleeping posture supporting apparatus of the present invention, a person's entire body can be supported and maintained lying at full length and the person's chest is positioned to face upward during sleep so as to expand the lungs, so that breathing capacity and oxygen supply can increase, thereby preventing a person from snoring or experiencing sleep apnea, thus allowing the person to have a good sleep.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a sleeping posture supporting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 illustrates the sleeping posture supporting apparatus applied to a user according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the sleeping posture supporting apparatus comprises an inclination support 10 that is disposed on the floor and includes an inclination unit 12 and a horizontal unit 11, a pillow 40 that is placed on the horizontal unit 11, and a pair of first and second long cushions 20 and 30 that are disposed on the inclination unit 12.

The inclination unit 12 of the inclination support 10 supports a user's shoulders so as to support the user's chest at a predetermined angle with respect to a bottom surface.

The first and second long cushions 20 and 30 are spaced apart from each other by the inclination unit 12 so that a lower surface of each cushion is fixed by fixing units 27 and 37. A first concave unit 21 and a second concave unit 31 are formed in a surface where the first and second long cushions 20 and 30 face each other so that a user's body can lie at full length and a user's back can be supported.

A space is formed between the first and second concave units 21 and 31 so that the user's body can lie at full length when lying on one side. A gap between the first and second long cushions 20 and 30 may be adjusted according to a user's body size. Thus, the fixing units 27 and 37 may use a “Velcro tape” 50 so as to easily fix the first and second long cushions 20 and 30.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the pillow 40 of the sleeping posture supporting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3, the pillow 40 is adhered to the horizontal unit 11 by using the Velcro tape in the same manner as the fixing units 27 and 37.

The pillow 40 comprises a cover 41 that can be opened and closed by a zipper 41 a and pillow stuffing 42 included in the cover 41.

An example of the pillow stuffing 42 can be a wooden pillow or cushion.

Meanwhile, FIG. 4 is a diagram of a sleeping posture supporting apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 4, the sleeping posture supporting apparatus comprises a frame 35 that forms an inner space of the first and second long cushions 20 and 30, and is in the shape of a net with a cushion (not shown), a ventilation cover 36 that surrounds the frame 35 and can be ventilated, and an air blower 50 that sends air to the frame 35. For example, the frame 35 can be made of bamboo.

In the present embodiment, the air blower 50 sends air to the first and second long cushions 20 and 30 and the ventilation cover 36 ventilates wind to the outside so that a user can lie at full length and can have a cool sleep in summer.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an inclination support of a sleeping posture supporting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 5, an adjusting unit capable of adjusting an inclination angle of the inclination unit 12 comprises a base plate 13 that forms a bottom surface of the inclination support 10, a movable plate 14 that moves up and down with respect to the base plate 13 by a hinge 15 and corresponds to the inclination unit 12, a motor 17 that is fixed to the base plate 13 and includes a screw rod 17 a that can appear according to power, and a hollow pipe 18 having one end rotatably connected to the movable plate 14 and another end screwed to the screw rod 17 a.

The adjusting unit adjusts an inclination angle by moving the movable plate 14 up or down with respect to the hinge 15 when the screw rod 16 a turns according to a rotation direction of the motor 17 and the hollow pipe 18 is elevated.

A method of using the sleeping posture supporting apparatus having the above structure will now be described.

A gap between the first and second cushions 20 and 30 and the position of the pillow 40 are adjusted according to a user's body size and are fixed.

The gap between the first and second cushions 20 and 30 can allow a user's back to be supported by the first cushion 20 or the second cushion 30 when the user lies on one side.

Referring to FIG. 2, the user's body is placed between the first and second cushions 20 and 30 so as to lie on one side with a lower arm placed under the second cushion 30 and an upper arm placed above the second cushion 30 so as to hold the user's body in a user's arms.

While lying on one side, a user's upper leg is above the second cushion 30 to be supported by the second cushion 30 and a lower leg is under the second cushion 30 to surround the second cushion 30 or to stretch straight.

Power is applied to the motor 17 to make the screw rod 17 a turn so that the inclination angle of the inclination unit 12 is adjusted for the user's convenience.

When the user lies on one side, the user's chest is inclined upward by the inclination unit 12, the user's head is placed on the pillow 40, and the user's back is supported by the first cushion 10.

In this case, since the user's chest is inclined upward, the user's lungs are expanded so that breathing capacity increases and oxygen is smoothly supplied, thereby preventing the user from experiencing sleep apnea.

The user's arms and legs are naturally induced to hold the second cushion 30 so as to naturally lie on a user's side.

The first and second cushions 20 and 30 make it possible to position the user in an opposite manner to that shown in FIG. 2, i.e., the user may lie on his or her other side instead of that shown in FIG. 2.

On the other hand, referring to FIG. 3, in summer, a wooden pillow can be used as the pillow stuffing 42 in the cover 41 of the pillow 40. Referring to FIG. 4, the air blower 50 sends air into the first and second long cushions 20 and 30 so as to enable the user have a cool sleep.

The advantages of the sleeping posture supporting apparatus of the present invention are described below.

First, the first and second long cushions 20 and 30 that are spaced apart from each other according to a user's body size can maintain a user's position lying on one side during sleep, thereby preventing the user from snoring. The inclination support 10 makes the user's chest lean upward, which increases breathing capacity and oxygen supply, thereby preventing the user from experiencing sleep apnea. Thus, the user can sleep well.

Second, an adjusting unit capable of adjusting the inclination of the inclination support 10 can adjust an angle of the user's chest in order to ensure comfort, according to the user's body size.

Third, the first and second long cushions 20 and 30 can be ventilated by air flow, so that the user can have a cool sleep in summer.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. The exemplary embodiments should be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Therefore, the scope of the invention is defined not by the detailed description of the invention but by the appended claims, and all differences within the scope will be construed as being included in the present invention. 

1-5. (canceled)
 6. A sleeping posture support apparatus comprising: an inclination support comprising an inclination unit supporting a person's shoulders and supporting the person's chest at a predetermined angle with respect to a bottom surface, and a horizontal unit horizontally extending from an upper portion of the inclination unit; first and second long cushions spaced apart from each other in the inclination unit (12), each including a fixing unit that is partially fixed to a lower surface, the fixing units being spaced apart from each other from upper ends of the first and second long cushions, forming first and second concave units in a surface where the first and second long cushions face each other so that the user can be placed on one side, and supporting the user's back; and a pillow supported by the horizontal unit (11) and supporting the user's head.
 7. The sleeping posture support apparatus of claim 6, wherein the pillow comprises a cover that can be opened and closed, and a pillow stuffing that is included in the cover.
 8. The sleeping posture support apparatus of claim 7, further comprising: an adjusting unit adjusting an inclination angle of the inclination unit.
 9. The sleeping posture support apparatus of claim 8, wherein the adjusting unit comprises a base plate forming a bottom surface of the inclination support, a movable plate connected to a hinge with respect to the base plate and corresponding to the inclination unit (12), a motor fixed to the base plate and having a screw rod that can turn by generated power, and a hollow pipe having one end rotatably connected to the rotation plate (14) and another end screwed to the screw rod.
 10. The sleeping posture support apparatus of claim 6, wherein at least one of the first and second long cushions comprises a frame maintaining an inner space and is in the shape of a net with a cushion, a ventilation cover surrounding the frame and being ventilated, and an air blower sending air into the frame.
 11. The sleeping posture support apparatus of claim 10, further comprising: an adjusting unit adjusting an inclination angle of the inclination unit.
 12. The sleeping posture support apparatus of claim 11, wherein the adjusting unit comprises a base plate forming a bottom surface of the inclination support, a movable plate connected to a hinge with respect to the base plate and corresponding to the inclination unit (12), a motor fixed to the base plate and having a screw rod that can turn by generated power, and a hollow pipe having one end rotatably connected to the rotation plate (14) and another end screwed to the screw rod.
 13. The sleeping posture support apparatus of claim 6, further comprising: an adjusting unit adjusting an inclination angle of the inclination unit.
 14. The sleeping posture support apparatus of claim 13, wherein the adjusting unit comprises a base plate forming a bottom surface of the inclination support, a movable plate connected to a hinge with respect to the base plate and corresponding to the inclination unit (12), a motor fixed to the base plate and having a screw rod that can turn by generated power, and a hollow pipe having one end rotatably connected to the rotation plate (14) and another end screwed to the screw rod. 